Archive | January 2014

She is the author of some marvelous stories for children. Here is a bit about this wonderful lady:

Greta Burroughs loves to read. No matter where she is, there is always a book close at hand. Her love of reading began at an early age and blossomed over time to include many different genres, her favorite now being fantasy.

As a preschool and elementary school teacher, Greta tried to instill the joy of reading in the children she worked with. Books were an important part of her classroom and story time was the highlight of the day.

It has been a while since Greta was in a classroom but she had lots of experience in reading to children of various ages and remembers what they enjoyed listening to. She tries to incorporate that knowledge into her work as an author and believes it makes her a better writer of children’s and young adult books.

She now resides in SC with her husband, Robert and three dogs. Greta has six books published at the present time; three children’s books in the Patchwork Dog and Calico Cat series, two MG/YA fantasy entitled Gerald and the Wee People and House on Bo-Kay Lane, and a nonfiction account of her experiences with an autoimmune blood disorder called ITP – Heartaches and Miracles.

Another thing you might like to know is the second book in the Wee People series, “House on Bo-Kay Lane,” was a semi-finalist in the 2013 kindlebookreview.com book awards. If you’ve already read “Gerald and the Wee People,” You need to continue the adventure.

In “Gerald and the Wee People”, Gerald and his best friend, Vernon discover a mysterious spot in the woods where Gerald visualizes a miniature village complete with wee inhabitants. He enjoys going back to that spot and watching the day to day activities until trouble starts in the village and he tries to convince Vernon that the “visions” are real and the wee people need help.

While trying to prove that the whole thing is just Gerald’s wild imagination, the boys literally fall into the new world and get caught up in a war. The boys come up with ways to keep the invading force from entering the village but another solution has to be found in order to put an end to the conflict.

Along with a few companions from the village, Gerald and Vernon embark on a quest to face down the deranged forest god who instigated the mayhem. The dangerous path is laid out by an ancient prophecy, but not everything goes as planned. http://viewbook.at/weepeople

The adventure continues in the second book in the Wee People series, “House on Bo-Kay Lane.”

Gerald and Vernon believe their time with the wee people came to an end after they returned to their home world but begin to wonder when strange things started to happen at an abandoned house in their neighborhood. Ghostly images of familiar faces from the wee people village are seen in the windows, echoes of voices from the past haunt the boys’ dreams and an undeniable curiosity draws Gerald and Vernon to investigate the mysterious haunted house. What they find takes them back to the world of the wee people and a new adventure begins.

In “House on Bo-Kay Lane”, a mirror is found in a forgotten room in the far-seers’ training center. Sheela, a far-seer master and Alyson, an apprentice firestarter are unwillingly drawn into the depths of the mirror and wind up in the abandoned house on Bo-Kay Lane. Sheela uses her telepathic skills to enlist the aid of Gerald, Vernon and Gerald’s father, Andrew to help find the way back to the world of the wee people.

That problem resolved, they try to unravel the secrets of the mirror and find that it is a portal between their two worlds, as well as to a time in the future and possibly even to a parallel universe. They also discover that someone is trapped inside the mirror and the decision has to be made as to whether or not to help the trapped soul escape the confines of the portal.

Meanwhile, the wee people discover the origins of their world. That knowledge is not well accepted and leads to discord between them and the outworlders, Gerald, Andrew and Vernon. An uneasy truce paves the way to an understanding and acceptance of the unwelcome facts and eventually to a solution of how to deal with the man in the mirror. http://viewbook.at/bokaylane

Thank you Greta for being with us today and we look forward to book three in the series will be out later on this year.

I thought I would share a friends blog with you as she was kind enough to host little ol’ me (T.L. here) on it!! Karen Magill is a wonderful friend, author and motivational guru!! Her “On The Right Side” blog features tons of encouraging posts.

Here’s her motto:

As long as I am not six feet under, I am on the right side of the ground and anything is possible. Join me and let’s see what we can accomplish. In this blog you will find thought provoking and sometimes inspirational entries.

Karen is also a wonderful author. Here are the links to two of her books:

Hi everyone! We are pleased to have John Emil Augustine with us today!! He is a great guy and an awesome writer. His latest book “From The Abyss” already has ten five-star reviews since the publish date of Jan 1st of this year! We know he has many more coming in the near future. “From The Abyss” is an emotional journey. This book is an up-close and personal account of John’s own struggle to be true to himself and his family.

Starting out in marriage we all bring in our own hopes and dreams. We never want to consider that our own experience wont be anything but blissful, even if the signs are there before hand. It can be tough to understand the difference between a person who is difficult from a person who is abusive. When John and Cindi married, he felt sure he could love enough to heal what was already broken. It took a lot before he understood just how badly broken this relationship was. And, by that time, there was more at stake.

“From the Abyss” is based on a real story, John’s very own story. He is very open and honest. John relates his life story to the reader by exposing raw emotion and his decisions that are almost too much for him to handle. John is able to relay a sense of hope that his wife is capable of changing and determination on his part to stick it out. To finally his own realization that no matter what happens no one should be abused, ever.

This story is open, honest and will break your heart at times. John shows us the best and worse of relationships. I recommend this book for adult readers, especially to anyone struggling in their relationship with their spouse.

Now that we know a bit of what the book is about, let’s take some time and find out more about this awesome author:

Welcome John! We are so happy to have you with us today!! Tell us, where are you from? Minneapolis, Minnesota

Tell us a little about yourself: I grew up in Minneapolis and toured in my twenties and early thirties with local and national acts; writing, arranging, and performing with notable jazz, blues, gospel, reggae, post funk, prog rock, and folk groups. I’ve also been a landscaper, mail carrier, English professor, and forklift operator. I still surround myself with music as I have a musical family. My wife and four boys (13, 12, 6, and 6) all play and sing.

What is your latest news?From the Abyss is my first book and I think of it as a “Reality Novel.” It is my true story originally written to a friend of mine who had been in an abusive relationship. I wanted to give her the idea that there would eventually be a good ending to her episode, and that things could still work out for her. Actually, to all abuse victims, that is an important message I want to send, so I decided to turn my story into a real book.

When and why did you begin writing? I’ve always written, but it had been mostly rock lyrics up until this book. Generally, with lyrics, you reduce a story to three verses and a chorus. You try to make each and every word count, and you try to turn the whole song on its head in the third verse. Like…”Oh, that’s what this song is actually about.” Shakespeare tended to use that formula with the last two lines of a sonnet. With novels, I have three books and a title to work with, so I am trying to do a version of that formula with my trilogy. It’s a fun experiment.

When did you first consider yourself a writer? I don’t. I think in terms of actions. At the moment I am writing. That’s what I consider myself doing. I am also breathing, but don’t really consider myself a breather either. When I label myself, I stop myself in time. When I say I am doing, I call it like it is at the moment. It makes me much happier because I don’t have to live up to an arbitrary expectation based on a past action. I can simply do right now. I’m much happier that way.

Do you have a specific writing style? I approach the writing like I approach song lyrics. There has to be a rhythm. It has to sound right in my head. When Sarah Wallace and I have gone back and edited, I have then come behind and made sure the words are placed right for the rhythm. Nothing in the book is arbitrary.

How did you come up with the title? Brenda Perlin came up with the title. I liked it because it lends itself to all kinds of interesting twists. For example, having been through the figurative abyss which is an abusive relationship, I can truthfully say I am From the Abyss. I’ve lived there and I’ve found my way out. It’s a great title.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp? My hope is to spread the message to those who are being abused, to those who know someone who is being abused, and to those who are abusing that we are here to survive each other’s abuse, we are here to help and respect each other, and we are here to learn about and improve our own actions.

How much of the book is realistic? The whole thing. Everything is as it actually happened, even the bad stuff I did and of which I’m not proud.

What books have influenced your life the most? Brenda Perlin’s books have been influential. I still read a book called Words from a Man of No Words by Shree Rajneesh. I also read I and Thou by Martin Buber quite often. I am going to go back and read Thoughts Are Things by Prentice Mulford again. When I was a kid, I read the Rabbit Run books by John Updike.

If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor? Brian Wilson

Are there any new authors that have grabbed your interest? I’ve been blown away by the Master Koda authors. I am making my way through all the current books on the website. Such great diversity and excellent writing.

What are your current projects? As I write the three From the Abyss books, I am also putting together the bits and pieces of songs I wrote during the time the books take place. No one has ever heard this stuff, and I am going to arrange them, perform them, and turn them into a CD. That CD will then eventually be used as a soundtrack to audio books. I know audio books don’t sell, but I believe mine will make people think twice about what an audio book can be.

Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members. Brenda Perlin. She has been a huge motivating factor, especially when I was having some tough times with publishers. She brought me right over to Kim Mutch Emerson at Master Koda and I am so grateful for that among many other things.

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book? In fact, I am doing it again as this is a better version of my self-published book. Working with Sarah Wallace has been the thing I would have changed. She took what I had and made it shine. I am very grateful and really dig the way the book sounds and looks now, much more than before.

Can you share a little of your current work with us? Yes. Here’s part of the first chapter.

~~~~~~~

So Long, John

The hot, humid Minneapolis summer was cooling, and the city streets no longer waved heat as they had just a few short weeks before. Landscaping had been tough that summer. I remember being told to sit down and drink water one squelching August afternoon as my mind went a little hazy from working so hard in the hundred degree heat. Landscaping could be a tough gig.

Now, by early September, the powerful sun was waning, and the concrete behind the landscaping office was finally cooling. I sat on my lunch break with Emily. Everyone else was on assignment, so she asked me to join her for lunch that day. Her tousled red curls waved in the wind and glistened in the sunlight. Her faded freckles, though accompanied by laugh lines and faint wrinkles, still gave her face a youthful look. I loved to hear her laugh and to hear her up-beat, confident, sweet voice. To be in her presence at the age of 25, even though she was 37, was incredibly thrilling.

She was married. I was getting married. I didn’t care. I didn’t want to sleep with her – not really. We had too little in common for me to really entertain that notion. The idea of Emily as a conquest or an ideal lovemaking partner had certainly gone through my mind, but something had never been right about those thoughts. I understand the un-guyness of such a statement, but there it is.

Torrid sexual tension wasn’t actually what made the relationship interesting. This was a better relationship than that. Better than sex. This was my little taste of heaven. This was my reminder of what I was looking for, what I had been looking for until I decided to get married. In fact, my fiancé, Cindi, and I had actually been set up by Emily. I was following Emily’s recommendation. The way I looked at it, I was marrying the next-best thing to Emily.

At the worn, wooden picnic table behind the office, Emily ate her hummus and veggies, and I sat with my peanut butter sandwich and chips, looking at her and then at the trees behind her. They were beginning, just a little, to turn. Everything I had experienced that summer, especially my courtship with Cindi, was changing and most certainly cooling. Cindi was changing. Emily knew. She understood me like a best friend. She sensed my apprehension and had seen Cindi change first-hand. She knew my predicament well.

“John?” Her head tilted.

I looked at her and saw the concern in her beautiful face. I knew what we were going to talk about. I knew she felt as if she should at least broach the subject. She had always looked out for me.

“Yeah,” I said nonchalantly.

“Are you doing ok?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

“You know Cindi’s not talking to me, right?”

“Yeah, it’s childish. I know.”

“Well, that’s between me and her, but I am worried about you. If you ever need help, just let me know, and I will try to help you.”

“I know…I think I will be ok.”

“I really don’t want to put her down, but I know she can be difficult sometimes.”

“No, you’re right. I can see that pretty objectively. She was awful to you, and I can’t apologize for her, but…”

“John, no. Don’t apologize.”

“I know, but I want you to know it isn’t your fault. That’s how she is. She’s mean to people for no reason.”

“John, I have to ask…are you sure about this?”

“About what? The wedding?”

“I don’t want to talk you out of it; I just want to know that you’re walking into this with your eyes open.”

“Here’s what I think. Cindi needs…help. She needs someone to care for her and to be a voice of reason.” I was surprised at myself when I heard my own words. What was I getting myself into?

“She does. I agree.” Emily sighed.

She must have known something about what I was getting myself into, I realized. Then, because I realized her awareness of the tottering perch upon which I was balanced, I suddenly felt the need to convince her that I was doing the right thing, that I had the situation under control.

“She trusts me, Emily. So long as she trusts me, I can be that person for her. She knows she gets out of line. She just doesn’t know when it’s called for and when it’s not. She needs someone who will help with that. I think I can do it.”

“I just wish you could wait. Your wedding is next month. Can’t you wait till spring?”

“Of course we could wait. Of course.”

I looked away, trailing off. How beautiful the trees would look in a few weeks. By the time the wedding happened, the leaves would be brown and mostly fallen. But between now and then, I could enjoy this one last reprieve, this beautiful change from green to brilliant red, orange, and yellow. I could enjoy my freedom one last time. And I could enjoy my moment with Emily.

“Then why don’t you?”

I broke from my thoughts as a wave of anger went through me, and all my frustration suddenly boiled to the surface as I snapped, “You don’t get it, Emily!”

“John!” Her face flashed shock. She had never seen me like that. I had rarely seen myself like that.

“Sorry. I’m so sorry.” I immediately put my head down in shame, suddenly shaking.

“John, you’re not ok. Please let me help somehow. This isn’t you.”

“I know. I’m just tired, that’s all. I’m so sorry. I don’t know what came over me.”

“I’m worried about you, John. Do you have my number?”

“No.”

“Here, I’ll write it down for you, just in case. I don’t care why you call; just tell me you’ll call if you need anything. If you need a place to sleep for the night, someone to vent to, whatever. Just tell me you’ll call.”

I nodded my head obediently. “Ok, I’ll call.”

“Here. Put this somewhere safe.”

“Ok. Thank you.”

“All right, Duke, I better get back in there,” she said, pulling herself away from me and the conversation. She got up, picked up her lunch bag, and then turned back, putting her hand on my shoulder. “You take care of yourself. So long, John.”

“I will. So long.”

~~~~~~~~

Wow!! What a start! Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing? Reliving abuse is extremely challenging. I feel that it will help people because I’ve already seen that happen, but going back and trying to recreate certain scenes has been a lot to handle. Almost too much at times.

What is your particular writing quirk? I write in the warehouse where I work while waiting for the trucks to come in.Do you have to travel much concerning your book(s)? My goal is to do presentations about abuse as well as creative writing, so I plan to do some traveling. My life travels thus far are in my book.

Who designed the cover(s)? Rebekkah White. She is wonderful.

Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it? You can learn everything from writing or painting or whatever your medium is. You process your thoughts that way and realize things about yourself you would never have otherwise.

Do you have any advice for other writers? Follow your heart.

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers? If you are in an abusive relationship, get out. Period. I know how improbable that sounds, but I have been there and I have crawled out. You can too. Things will begin to get better when you do. If you know someone who you suspect is in an abusive relationship, be a friend. When the opportunity presents itself, help your friend. And if you have any inkling that you are abusing someone, send me a note to johnemilaugustine (at) gmail (dot) com. Let’s figure out what’s happening and make it better. No judgment, just help.

Please share your blog/website/facebook/twitter here with us and our readers.

John, Thank you so much for being with us today and sharing from your heart. Folks, you need this book! We all have been in relationships that are not good for us or we know dear people who are. And John means it when he says ‘contact him.’ He knows what it’s like and if he can help he will.

Hi everyone! Happy New Year from us! We have had a wonderful, extremely busy Christmas and New Years! But, now that January is here, we are ready to get back to it!! This week for our author spotlight, we have the privilege of Jerrid Edgington visiting with us! His life story is amazing!! Let’s jump in so you can learn a little about this awesome author:

BIO- Jerrid Edgington has been a Paramedic since 1997 working in four different states. He is currently living and working in Poteau, Oklahoma where he is a Paramedic for Le Flore County EMS. He is happily married to Jody, and they’ve recently had an addition to their family on October 16th when they were blessed with the birth of Zoey, their daughter. Jerrid spent several years as a semi-professional football player, officiated high school varsity football and basketball, and also enjoys woodworking as well as writing in his spare time. Jerrid is currently writing a medical fiction thriller series called Racing the Reaper.

Ever wondered what it would be like to walk in the shoes of a Paramedic? Then Racing the Reaper is the book for you. It’s the first book in the trilogy.

Synopsis of Racing the Reaper – Jacob Myers was a normal, average, run of the mill kind of guy. He often felt that his life was meant for something greater. But without any formal education, he was stuck at a mundane office job. That all changed one night when he suffered a spinal cord injury that nearly left him paralyzed and trapped in a wheel chair. Through his recovery process, he found the direction in his life he’d been longing for; to get a job in EMS. Jacob suffered through mistake after mistake with his new job, but began to learn how to deal with life and death situations, as well as the emotional and physical rigors the job put him through. After two years as an EMT-Basic, he went to Paramedic school. Upon completion, he took to the streets and had to learn a completely new set of rules. As if his job wasn’t difficult enough, Jacob had a stalker that was a former patient. She made his life a living hell. In dealing with life and death, then a stalker, Jacob wasn’t sure if he’d made the right career choice. Along with seeing the things he did in the field, his he began to question his faith in God. Would he survive the streets and the psychotic stalker, Becca?

How thrilling! We cannot wait to read this book. Here are the social media links so that you can connect with Jerrid yourself.